09/08/26

Matthew 2:7-8: King Herod had just asked the three Magi where this new King of the Jews was to be born. They quoted from Micah 5:2 that it was to be in Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, where this ruler would arrive, and that this ruler would lead His people, Israel. Now we are told that “Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he [Herod] said, ‘Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.’”

Herod’s decision to meet with the wise men in private highlights his cunning and a desire to manipulate the situation to his advantage without arousing public suspicion. He likely feared the Jewish population’s potential reaction if his true intentions were revealed. By carefully questioning the wise men about the timing of the star’s appearance, Herod sought to determine the child’s age and subsequently devise a plan to eliminate him. This information ultimately led to Herod’s later decree to kill all male children in Bethlehem and its surrounding areas who were two years old and under, in an attempt to ensure the child’s death. This verse also contrasts Herod’s malicious intentions with the genuine desire of the wise men to worship Jesus. Despite the king’s deception, the wise men remained focused on their journey and the purpose of seeking the newborn king. This passage emphasizes God’s sovereign control over events, even in the face of human wickedness and deception. God intervenes to protect the child and guide the wise men, ensuring His plan for the Messiah’s life is carried out. 

Then we get to see Herod’s deception and lack of genuine faith. He pretends to be interested in honoring the newborn king, but his true motive is to kill him. This serves as a warning against those who claim religious piety but harbor malicious intent. The information he wanted concerned the young child’s condition, as well as that of his parents and all surrounding circumstances. It seems probable that Herod did not believe he was born; otherwise, it is amazing that so suspicious and artful a prince as he was should put this important affair on so precarious a footing. How easily might he, if he had not himself accompanied these learned strangers, under the pretence of doing honor to them, have sent a guard of soldiers with them, who might, humanly speaking, without any difficulty, have slaughtered the child and his parents on the spot.

But, perhaps, he might be unwilling to commit such an act of cruelty in the presence of these sages, lest their report of it should render him infamous abroad. Or rather, we must refer his conduct, in this matter, to that secret influence with which God, whenever He pleases, can infatuate the most learned of mankind, and disappoint their designs. That I also, who would permit no interest of mine to interfere with the decrees of Heaven, may come with my family and court to pay homage to this new-born king; a duty to which I look upon myself as peculiarly obliged. Mark the hypocrisy of this perfidious tyrant! We may observe here, it is a peculiar excellence in the sacred writers, that they often describe a person’s character in one sentence, or even in one word, and that, by the by, when they are pursuing another object. Here again, his disposition is perfectly developed; deep, crafty, subtle; pretending one thing but intending another; professing to have a design of worshipping Jesus, when his purpose was to get rid of him!

Jewish historian Flavius Josephus recounts an interesting story about how, out of pretended friendship, Herod invited Aristobulus to an entertainment at Jericho. Aristobulus was Herod’s brother-in-law, Aristobulus III, who was high priest of Judea at the time. Herod feared Aristobulus’s popularity with the Jews in 35 BC. He contrived, after dinner, to have him drowned in a fish-pond, in which he was persuaded to bathe along with several of Herod’s attendants. For they, by Herod’s direction, as if in play and sport, dipped him so often, and kept him so long under water, that he died in their hands. And then, as if his death had been an unfortunate accident, which had happened without any previous design, Herod pretended great sorrow for it, shed an abundance of tears, and bestowed upon his body a very splendid and expensive funeral. [See Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Bk 15, Ch. 3:1].

What spiritual implications for believers are found in these verses? Believers can learn valuable lessons about worldly deception, human pretense, and God’s sovereignty over evil from these verses, where King Herod secretly plots against Jesus under the guise of wanting to worship Him. Believers are also reminded that worldly systems and hostile forces often disguise their opposition to Christ and His followers using flattering or religious language. Furthermore, they teach believers to be discerning, as spiritual attacks and worldly schemes often operate in hidden, calculated ways rather than upfront honesty. In addition, Believers can take comfort that human schemes against God’s purposes ultimately fail. And while believers’ opponents use diligence for destruction, God uses the believers’ devotion to preserve and reveal His truth.